Publications

For so many years traditional medicinal practices (TMPs), particularly the use of medicinal plants, have been widely employed in Uganda for managing HIV/AIDS-relatedsymptoms and supporting immune function. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continue to be major global healthconcerns, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where Uganda remains one of the countries most affected by the epidemic. Despite significant advancements in antiretroviraltherapy (ART), access to conventional medicine remains limited in resource-constrained regions like Uganda thus prompting the exploration of alternative approaches tocomplement antiretroviral therapy (ART) which includes medicinal practices, especially the use of medicinal plants in the management of HIV/AIDS. This review aims tocompile and critically assess the existing literature on the medicinal plants employed in the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS in Uganda. We conducted acomprehensive literature search of PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases from January 2023 to July 2023. The search key words used were medicinal plantsused in management of HIV/AIDS in Uganda to extract full-text research articles and proceedings from International Conferences published only in English. Many medicinalplants were identified during this review however data supporting their role in the management of HIV/AIDS in Uganda is still scanty yet with a few documented cytoxicitieswarranting further investigation. However it’s important to note that the mechanism of action of majority of these medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDSin Uganda remains unknown in the world of science and yet many more medicinal plants used remain unknown since those that had knowledge about their location didn’tdocument, thus Collaboration between traditional healers, scientists, and healthcare professionals is essential to maximize the potential benefits of these medicinal plants incombating HIV/AIDS in the region.